Dental Servicesat University of South Dakota
Graduates earn $61,265/yr in their first year — about 1.0% above the national Dental Services average. Base-case 10-year earnings $560K; scenarios range from $524K to $560K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at University of South Dakota
First-year earnings of $61,265 track close to the $60,938 national median for Dental Services programs. This is a middle-of-the-road outcome on salary alone.
With a 14.8x return on in-state tuition over ten years, the financial case for this program is compelling by virtually any measure.
The 7% difference between AI scenarios reflects partial automation exposure. Some Dental Services career paths face displacement, but others in the field are more insulated.
At $26,000 in median debt against $61,265 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance in under six months of full earnings.
University of South Dakota ranks #14 among 74 Dental Services programs, placing it in the top 5% nationally by our financial outcomes measure.
The limited growth from $61,265 to $61,969 over five years suggests earnings in this field plateau relatively early in one's career.
Three scenarios, ten years out
Each scenario is a different assumption about how AI reshapes the career paths this major feeds into. Earnings projections stack the full 10-year cumulative trajectory; scores use the same 0–100 metric as the hero, recomputed under that scenario's assumptions.
10 year projection
Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to University of South Dakota's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.
Common career destinations for this program's graduates, weighted by the school's specific occupation mix. Salary is BLS national median; AI risk is per-role task-exposure research.
Peer schools offering Dental Services
How University of South Dakota stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at University of South Dakota
Other highest-scoring programs offered at University of South Dakota, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.
Consider the trade route
Not sure a 4-year degree is the right path? Trade programs in Dental Services offer shorter timelines, lower debt, and strong AI resilience for hands-on careers.
Compare Dental Services trade programs on TradeSchoolOutlook →Frequently asked about Dental Services at University of South Dakota
What does a 64/100 DegreeOutlook Score mean for Dental Services at University of South Dakota?
At 64/100, University of South Dakota's Dental Services program delivers middling returns. School cost and personal fit become important decision factors.
Is University of South Dakota one of the best schools for Dental Services?
Among 74 Dental Services programs, University of South Dakota's #14 position reflects consistently above-average results across earnings, ROI, and employment probability.